Good Questions to Ask Over A Cold Call?

Hey monkeys, so here's the situation. I have a cold call with a VC partner based up in Boston in two days. We first connected over LinkedIn (since we had a few mutual connections) and since I would like to actually get to know them and have a working relationship, I cold emailed them and they agreed to schedule a call with me. Now this is the first person that I am cold calling that isn't an alum from my school so I am slightly nervous.

What tips do you guys have to get the conversation going and stuff? As well as some really good VC related questions to ask? This is the first time we would be speaking over the phone and I really don't want to blow it. Any other tips you guys have in relation to cold calling is much appreciated!

side note: they have a blog and I have read a few blog posts so would this be a good topic to bring up for discussion?

 

What was the subject you proposed in the email for the call?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

"Potential opportunities" and the email went like this if it helps:

Hello their first name,

My name is first name, last name and I will be an incoming freshman at insert school and I am interested in venture capital as a potential career. We connected on LinkedIn a few months ago and I was hoping you would be willing to talk about your own history in venture capital and perhaps any opportunities to gain experience at insert VC firm or one of your portfolio companies in the future.

Thank you,

first name, last name

 
Best Response
CreditMadrid:
"Potential opportunities" and the email went like this if it helps:

Hello their first name,

My name is first name, last name and I will be an incoming freshman at insert school and I am interested in venture capital as a potential career. We connected on LinkedIn a few months ago and I was hoping you would be willing to talk about your own history in venture capital and perhaps any opportunities to gain experience at insert VC firm or one of your portfolio companies in the future.

Thank you,

first name, last name

Wow dude you're an incoming freshman? Ok props for visualizing your career so early.

The call would probably be best as a kind of Q&A to learn about the business as well as a timeline to next steps (ie. internship). Don't worry about trying to learn everything before the call. Also, I don't know what your major is, but you could probably get some feedback about recommended studies from him as well as a target GPA to have a chance at an internship.

I usually like to put a face to a name as well, so even if he is far away, try to ask to grab coffee if you're ever coming through town. Then, make an excuse to come through town at a later date to reconnect.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

What does your guidance counselor say about your courseload? Mine strongly advised against it.

Are you taking 20hrs+ both semesters this year?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Well mine has said nothing so far as my schedule was pretty much already made for me (there are required courses I have to take). The only difficult class I really have would be calc 1, all the other ones are just standard courses (one elective, intro econ course, writing course, english course). And no I will not be taking 20+ hours both semesters.

 

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